Leila's POV:
He just stared at me, like I was some alien from another dimension, his eyes cold and distant. I had laid my soul bare, told him everything—things I never wanted to speak of again, things that haunted me every time I closed my eyes. And yet, he said nothing.
I had hoped—no, prayed—that by telling him the truth, he would see me differently. That he would lessen his vendetta against me and realize I was just as much a victim as he was. I had suffered at their hands, too. I never asked to be born to those monsters. My life had been filled with pain, manipulation, and cruelty. Surely, he could understand that. Surely, he could see that we were on the same side.
